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Sixers general manager Elton Brand, addressing the media Tuesday for the first time since the NBA shut down on March 11, was asked if he has enough information to decide Brown's fate, or his players', if the season does not resume.

Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons, left, of Australia, watches with Joel Embiid, right, of Cameroon, to see if his shot goes in during the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets, Tuesday, April 23, 2019, in Philadelphia.(Photo: Chris Szagola, AP)

"It’s very hard to speculate on what changes would be made if we don’t have a season," Brand said. "Right now, we’re focusing on just making sure the guys are healthy physically and mentally. I can tell you that we’re preparing as if the season is going to resume.

"I speak to Brett Brown every day, (on) Facetime, and he and his staff are preparing for the regular season and playoffs. There are so many unknowns."

There's the conditioning of star center Joel Embiid, who missed five straight games with a shoulder injury before returning for that last game on March 11. Embiid has had conditioning problems in past seasons after missing time with injuries.

That could be an issue again. Embiid has played in only one game since Feb. 26.

"Joel Embiid has been working out," Brand said. "He’s conditioning. He’s focused ... I wouldn’t bet against him. He’s going to be ready and ramped up."

And there's the health of star guard Ben Simmons. When the Sixers last played, Simmons had missed eight straight games with a back injury. On March 11, Brand said Simmons would need three more weeks of rehab before being re-evaluated, which would have taken Simmons into the month of April.

But Brand wouldn't speculate if Simmons would have played if the season had resumed then. In a typical season, the NBA would be in the second round of the playoffs this week.

"He’s doing really, really well," Brand said. "I'm very optimistic he’ll be ready to play if, and when, we’re given that green light to resume."

Then Brand added: "It’s tough because of him not playing 3-on-3, 5-on-5 – just to speculate there. I’ve Facetimed him during his workouts and his treatments, and I’ve seen him.

"We’ve taken our time. We’ve been methodical and thoughtful about his recovery and rehab, just to make sure, because we weren’t in a rush. It’s hard to speculate, but he’s been working hard and I know he’d be closer (to returning) or ready."

Brand said he is on a committee with NBA commissioner Adam Silver about returning to play. Brand wouldn't speculate on when, or if, that will happen, or in what form, other than to say: "It’s going to be based on data, not a date. And then we’ll figure everything else from there."

But Brand is pushing for "ramp-up" time, perhaps a training camp of some sort, before teams are able to start playing games again.

For the Sixers, all of it is intertwined with Brown's future, with a team that has not shown this season that it can contend for the Eastern Conference championship.

The Sixers are 39-26, but that record was only good enough for the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. That would mean a first-round series against the No. 3 seed Boston Celtics if the NBA resumed by going right to the playoffs.

The Celtics would thus hold the home-court advantage in a best-of-7 series. During the season, the Sixers were 29-2 at home, the best home record in the NBA. But they were only 10-24 on the road, the worst among the 16 teams that would make the playoffs as of now.

Brown's job was already being questioned last year before the playoffs started. But Brown was given a reprieve after the Sixers lost on a last-second shot in Game 7 of the second round.

Now, the Sixers face even longer odds to get past that round.

Teams aren't allowed to gather during the pandemic, but they are allowed to provide players with workout equipment. Brand said some players have received bikes, elliptical machines and even basketballs.

Brand is hoping that players could begin to gather soon, in groups no bigger than four, with no coaches present, at a practice facility. The Sixers' facility is in Camden, New Jersey. But Brand said using the 76ers Fieldhouse in Wilmington, where the Sixers' G-League team plays and practices, is a possibility, too.

For now, those player gatherings are limited to video calls, both among the players themselves, with the coaching and training staff, and with Brand.

“Just keeping them engaged with watching film,” Brand said. “And we’re giving them resources, so they have that outlet. When we speak to them, it’s not all about basketball. It’s about life and how they’re doing, how they’re transitioning, how their family is doing, ways they’re staying healthy, books they can read and articles, sometimes comedies just to get them to laugh.

"It’s a whole slew of things we’re trying to do because mental health is important at this time.”

And as the Sixers have discovered, so is physical health.

Martin Frank, sports reporter

I cover the Philadelphia Eagles for the News Journal. I've learned that there's never an offseason for a team that has such a hold over people in Delaware. I enjoy bringing that passion for the Birds to readers, whether it's in-season or out, a Super Bowl run or the drama leading up to the draft. But I mostly enjoy bringing you the stories of the players, from the 53rd man on the roster to star quarterback Carson Wentz. Your support as a News Journal subscriber enables me to bring those stories to you.